Grammar Games

Idea #1) The Adverb Game

Here are the steps.

1. One student volunteers to leave the room.

2. The student chooses a manner adverb. For example: quickly.

3. The student returns to the classroom and the other students give this student orders. For example: Walk around the room. Stand up. Shut the door.

4. The person who has chosen the adverb has to follow his classmates' orders in the manner of his chosen adverb. (He must walk around the room quickly.)

5. After the student has been given at least three orders, his classmates guess his adverb.

While playing this game in my college classroom, I was once ordered to pick my nose. My adverb was loudly. That was interesting...

Here are some adverbs that you can use.

quickly, slowly, angrily, happily, quietly, loudly, strongly, sheepishly, calmly, lazily, sleepily, fearfully, silently, painfully, seriously, dramatically, gracefully, stiffly, jerkily, drunkenly

Idea #2) Sentence Diagramming Puzzles

Here are the steps. (You can also use the puzzles from this page if you'd like.)

1. Think of a sentence that you'd like to diagram. If you're stuck, it's fun to pick famous slogans, movie quotes, or facts.

2. Diagram the sentence yourself to make sure that you know what you're doing! :)

You can use this tool to help you, but don't rely on their diagrams. They're not always correct. When in doubt, pick something easy!

3. Give grammatical clues that can be used to solve the puzzle.

Example: This sentence used to be the slogan for Sprite back in 2004.

              It is an imperative sentence.

Idea #3) Tell Me Everything You Know

Here are the steps.

1. Write a sentence on the board and set a time limit.

2. Students write down everything that they know about the grammar of the sentence.

3. When the time is up, students individually share their observations. If anyone else in the room has the same observation, they must cross it off their list. If they are the only ones who have made that particular observation, they get a point.

4. Whoever has the most points wins.

Idea #4) Diagram Sentences

Steps for Diagramming Sentences 

1. Do you already know how to diagram sentences? If not, you can start learning with these sentence diagramming exercises. 

2. Diagram sentences! I know that sounds silly, but once you know how to diagram, you'll already find grammar to be more fun and engaging!

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